June 17, 2025 Closed Session Report:
This closed session report is being provided pursuant to the Brown Act, Government Code section 54957.1(a)(3)(B), which provides in relevant part: “If final approval rests with some other party to the litigation or with the court, then as soon as the settlement becomes final, and upon inquiry by any person, the local agency shall disclose the fact of that approval, and identify the substance of the agreement.” On June 17, 2025, starting at 5:30 pm, the Orinda City Council held a special closed session meeting. The meeting agenda listed ORINDANS FOR SAFE EMERGENCY EVACUATION (OSEE) v. City of Orinda, Contra Costa County Superior Court Case No. N23-0579. That litigation was filed March 3, 2023 under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) challenging the Council’s January 31, 2023 approval of Plan Orinda. On June 17, 2025, the Council unanimously (5-0) gave approval to its legal counsel to settle the litigation if final terms could be reached with OSEE. On June 18, 2025, OSEE and the City signed a settlement agreement and filed a stipulation with the Court. Copies of both documents are available on the City’s website (https://www.planorinda.com/library). The settlement provides OSEE and the City will file a stipulation asking the Court to discharge the writ and remove from its calendar a July 24, 2025 hearing on the City’s pending motion to discharge the writ. If the Court does so, the City would enter into an approximately $245,000, 1-year contact with Ladris for emergency wildfire evacuation modeling software and services. The Council would also consider adoption of certain amendments to the bylaws of the City’s Supplemental Sales Tax Oversight Commission (SSTOC). The City would also pay OSEE $45,000 to resolve all remaining claims for attorneys’ fees and costs in this matter. 1930616.1